His parents,Isidore and Augusta Miller, were immigrants from Poland showing that they held faith in the promise of America as they owned a clothing store.
Prosperity ended for the family in 1929 with the stock market crash
After high school, Miller stuggled to get accepted into college, similar to Biff's struggles in school, requiring him to pick up odd jobs
Death of a Salesman written in 1949
*fun facts*
Miller married Marilyn Monroe in 1956
DOAS is alluded in Seinfeld when Jerry Seinfeld reminds George Costanza not to whistle in the elevator (the same advice Willy gives Biff). Jerry then continued to call George "Biff."
DOAS is also alluded in an episode of Family Guy, Meg Griffin plays the part of Linda, reciting the line "Willy Loman never made a lot of money, his name was never in the paper, but attention must be paid to such a person." Then a hitman, playing the role of Happy Loman, stands up and tries to fire at Lois. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_Salesman
*fun facts*